Globus pharyngeus due to a lymphangiomatous polyp arising from the tonsil

INTRODUCTION: Lymphangiomatous polyp of the tonsil is generally accepted as a hamartomatous lesion. Its differential diagnosis includes fibroepithelial polyp, squamous papilloma, angiofibroma, haemangioma, arteriovenous malformation, hamartoma and lymphangioma.

CASE REPORT: A 33-year-old man presented with 2 months history of feeling of foreign body sensation in the throat. Examination revealed a nodular red coloured polyp on the left tonsil. Histologically, the polyp was covered by squamous epithelium and is composed of numerous vascular channels containing lymphocytes and eosinophilic material, in a fibrous stroma. Immunohistochemically, the endothelial cells were positive toward CD31 and D2-40.

DISCUSSION: The characteristic histological features of a lymphangiomatous polyp are benign vascular proliferation with variable fibrous, adipose and lymphoid stromal components. Nested intraepithelial epidermotropism of lymphocytes can be observed. The vascular channels are typically thin-walled and contain eosinophilic proteinaceous material and lymphocytes. There is no reported incidence of recurrent or malignant transformation.